Hello football fans!!!
First off:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
I’m Happy Man
Welp…the Hawks won last weekend in what can only be described as the ugliest ass-whoopin’ that I’ve ever seen in a football game. Sure…the Hawks should have/could have won by at least 10 more points. But in the end, a road win in the B1G is a road win in the B1G.
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Iowa Hawkeyes @ #21 Nebraska Cornhuskers
FRIDAY – 11:00 AM / ABC / Line: ‘skers by 9 ½
The Heroes Game is finally here. Wow. It’s almost surreal. I know that a “rivalry” is not something that just starts…it happens over time and with unique stories. But I wonder if this is an exception? I mean…my Gosh…I hate this fan base. (I’m sorry Russ, if you’re reading this…as you are an exception to the rule!)
There is no doubt in the world that Nebraska has the better tradition and history. That’s obvious. Just as it is obvious that the Hawkeyes have had a better run in the past 10 years as compared to Nebraska. (Iowa has won 2 Conference Championships, Nebraska – 0. Iowa has been to two BCS games, Nebraska – 0.)
Anyways…you wouldn’t know any of that by talking to their fan base. EVERY YEAR is another year to expect a National Championship…ignoring such facts as how bad their coaching was for the better part of a decade, or how consistently horrible they looked in big games. And the whole “We’d win the Big Ten Championship every year if we were in the Big Ten!!”…welp…you’ve been absolutely DESTROYED on the road twice, and have even lost at mighty Memorial stadium to “lowly” Northwestern. So that’s an end to that.
What Up?
This might as well be called the “Jekyll and Hyde Game” – as both teams are about as easy to figure out as Chinese trigonometry. Nebraska had all the reason in the world to go into The Big House and play a good game last weekend, but instead laid an egg of epic proportions. (Sidenote: I am finding Nebraska losses in the B1G as fun to watch – almost – as wins by Iowa. Lllllove it.)
As far as the emotional side of things…I have to wonder if the advantage favors the Hawks? The only reason I say that is because Iowa had every reason TO lay an egg in West Lafayette last weekend…and instead played very well. This is the first game back for Nebraska– and their over-expectant fans – after they have been mathematically from winning a conference championship, or even getting to a BCS bowl.
Not that the Hawks don’t have a distraction or two, as provided by an angry Mika’il McCall last weekend. Here is that mysterious post here:
Not that bad, but still not something that you can put up with if you’re Kirk Ferentz. YOU ARE A RUNNING BACK. YOU DO NOT FUMBLE. That is a rule that was explained to me when I was about 8 years old. With that being said, I would put the chances of McCall staying with the team at about 0.005%. I hope I’m wrong.
I hope the Hawks understand – and I believe many of them do – just how badly Hawk fans want this game. Will I ever be happy that we lost to lowly Minnesota this year? No. But even as a transplanted Iowan living in Minnesota…I would gladly give up that game if it meant a win in this one.
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The Players
Now its time for many Hawk fans to get a living, breathing test against QB Taylor Martinez. All the jokes have been written all year long about his throwing motion; I still believe that it looks like he’s throwing watermelon and that’s what I’m going with. The thing is…he can actually “chuck” a pretty good deep ball…which is usually seen when he has a wide-open WR that’s gotten behind opposing DBs on play-action. That is where Martinez can kill you; it sure isn’t when he sits back in the pocket and reads defenses.
When Martinez hands off the ball, he gives it to RB Rex Burkhead, who I would really like if he played for any other team in the country. Burkhead was slowed down big time last weekend against Meeechigan’s active DL, and that in turn slowed down the entire Nebraska offense.
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The Match-Up(s)
It’s my personal feeling that Nebraska doesn’t have a strength NOR a weakness with either their offense OR defense; both are underwhelming at times, and both can have moments of greatness. I cannot say that the Cornhuskers OL is either good or bad. I cannot say that Nebraska’s DL is either good or bad.
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What Will Happen
Nebraskalost to Wisconsin because the Badger offense blew away the Cornhuskers and the Cornhuskers don’t have an offense to play catch-up. Nebraska lost to Meeechigan because the Wolverines DL owned the Cornhuskers OL. Nebraska lost to Northwestern because they played like shit and got caught up in the same Northwestern BS that all of us Hawk know all to well.
There’s no doubt that option #1 could happen: Iowa’s offense is quite under-rated and could potentially blow past Nebraska’s struggling (at times) defense. In fact…I will go so far as to say that the ONLY way that Iowa wins this is game is if we are aggressive and put Nebraska on their heels right from the start. Its not out of the question – it would be similar to how they looked against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, or against Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
But I think its going to be a good game, and Nebraska will come up with a few more special teams plays and a turnover that will decide the game.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 28 - Iowa Hawkeyes 23
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Week 13 “Precarious Predictions”
NCAA ATS 60-71-1
Last week ATS 6-5
Iowa ATS 5-5
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BIG TEN
(9-2) Michigan State @ (6-5) Northwestern
11:00 AM / BTN / Line: Northwestern by 6 ½
What a WEIRD game to figure. I don’t think there’s much doubt that Northwestern has more to play for, as they’re bowl-eligible but could wind up in Detoilet if things shake-out weirdly. Meanwhile…Sparty could rest their starters on both sides and nobody would blame them, as they’ve already clinched a spot in the B1G Championship game.
I wouldn’t blame anybody for taking Northwestern and the points (especially since I’m about ready to pick against them) but I have a feeling this is just too much of a mis-match in favor of Sparty, and that they really want to get to 10, 11, and maybe even 12 wins.
Sparty covers.
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(6-5) Ohio State @ (9-2) Meeechigan
11:00 AM / ABC / Line: Wolverines by 7
Every distraction in the world belongs to Ohio State. If Meeechigan can’t win this game, they may never beat them again.
Meeechigan covers.
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(5-6) Purdue @ (1-10) Indiana
2:30 AM / BTN / Line: Purdue by 7 ½
They shoot horses, right?
Purdue covers.
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(6-5) Illinois @ (2-9) Minnesota
2:30 PM / BTN / Line: Ohio State by 10 ½
I have to think that Illinois is just DONE. I bet if you took a secret poll of this Illini team…that most of the players (especially the non-Seniors) would vote to just stay home for the holidays.
Gophers + the points.
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Big Ten Game of the Week
(9-2) #19 Penn State @ (9-2) #16 Wisconsin
2:30 PM / ESPN / Line: ‘sconny by 17
Much like the Iowas pread (that started at 10 ½ points) – I was SHOCKED to see this line this high. I know that Wisconsin is a different beast at home…and I know that Wisconsin has shown the ability to blow out teams in games like this…but that’s a pretty great Penn State defense that Wisconsin is going up against on Saturday afternoon.
I’m definitely taking the points. In fact…I’m calling the upset, as an unusually tight Wisconsin team gacks this one at home and let’s Penn State pull out the win: Penn State 23 – Wisconsin 21.
Nittany Lions + the points.
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Around the country
Friday
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National Game of the Week
(10-1) #3 Arkansas @ (11-0) #1 LSU
1:30 PM / CBS / Line: LSU by 11 ½
I don’t want to bet against this LSU team, but that’s a LOT of points against a 10-win Arkansas team that has been a thorn in the side of the Bayou Bengals for quite some time.
Arkansas + the points.
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Saturday
(10-1) #2 Alabama @ (7-4) Auburn
2:30 PM / CBS / Line: ‘bama by 21
Once again – WOW! – that’s a huge spread. Isn’t this a rivalry? Isn’t this on the road? I know the emotions tend to fade at some point in the game, but that’s a lot of points against an Alabama offense that falls asleep behind the wheel at times.
Auburn + the points.
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#17 Clemson @ #12 South Carolina
6:45 PM / ESPN / ‘cocks by 4
I believe that South Carolina is over-rated. I believe that Sammy Watkins will be healthy and makes all the difference in the world.
Clemson + the points.
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#22 Notre Dame @ #6 Stanford
7:00 PM / ABC / Line: Stanford by 7
I honestly believe this is the lock of the week. I think that Stanford matches up well with Notre Dame – I get that – but I also believe that Notre Dame will play their best game of the year and win by two TDs. Just a feeling.
Notre Dame + the points.
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ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!
- Jeffrey the Greek!
Posted by Jeff Buch 
